Columbus Engages Arcadis for Wastewater Plant Improvements

By Laura Calugar

Work is underway at the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant in Columbus, Ohio

The City of Columbus, Ohio, has selected Arcadis as prime consultant to design energy-efficient and biogas recycling improvements at the city’s Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant. The improved plant will recycle biogas to produce electricity and heat, contributing to the city’s sustainability.

Under an approximately $1 million contract, Arcadis will design a combined heat and power engine capable of burning biogas to power a generator and produce electricity and heat for the plant. Methane-rich biogas is produced by the plant’s anaerobic digesters. Rather than flare the excess biogas, the city aims to recycle it for power. Arcadis will manage the engine procurement, pair it with a gas cleaning system for producing high quality fuel and integrate the new system into the plant’s existing electrical and heating system.

Enhanced efficiency

“Using biogas to fuel the engines is significantly more efficient and environmentally friendly than using coal power or natural gas and it will strengthen our city’s sustainability going forward,” said Columbus Department of Public Utilities Project Manager Todd Krenelka, in a prepared statement.  

The new system will be scalable to accommodate city growth. The design phase of the project will run through October 2019 with construction scheduled for spring 2020.

At the beginning of this year, Arcadis released the International Construction Costs report regarding the most expensive cities for construction. 

Image courtesy of Arcadis